Beverage-making apparatus



y 16, 0 R. H. HILL 2,507,633

BEVERAGE MAKING APPARATUS v Filed Oct. 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Po/ /z /7. /1/// May 16, 1950 R. H. HILL BEVERAGE MAKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10. 1947 INVENTOR. Aq/ph /7/// Afforneys EIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE Hifillllllllllfl BUIIIIIIIII E May 16, 1950 R. H. HILL BEVERAGE MAKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 R. s m 4 m w M 4 W W R Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES TNT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to beverage making devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for making coffee or tea.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved beverage making apparatus which is simple in construction, easy to use and which is very economical to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for making coffee, tea, or other beverages of like character, the apparatus providing selection means for brewing the beverage by percolating hot water either from a spray above the coffee grounds or tea leaves downwardly through said cofiee grounds or tea leaves, or by infusion of the hot water upwardly through said coffee grounds or tea leaves, the apparatus providing greatly improved efficiency in the use of coffee grounds or tea leaves and further providing a finished beverage of high quality and appetizing flavor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through a beverage making apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, said view being taken on line I! of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical crosssectional view taken through a modified form of beverage making apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure '7 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, I I designates a vertical tank supported on suitable legs I2 secured to the bottom wall thereof and maintaining tank I I in elevated position with respect to a horizontal base support I3. Positioned beneath the bottom wall of tank I I and supported on base member I3 is a burner I4, for example, a gas burner, provided with a connection to a suitable fuel source comprising a conduit I5. The lower portion of tank II is connected by a conduit I6 through a valve I! to a source of city water. Connected to tank II by respective upper and lower conduit sections I8 and I9 is a transparent sight tube 20 whereby the level of water in tank Il may be observed during the operation of the apparatus. Secured to the top of tank I I by suitable clamp fasteners 2 I, 2i is a cover 22 provided with handles 23, 23. Mounted on cover 22 is a pressure gage 24 and a safety valve said gage and safety valve communicating with the upper interior portion of tank i l.

Designated at 25 is a second vertical tank having legs 21, 21 supporting said tank 26 on the base member I3 adjacent to the first tank ii. The lower portion of tank I l is connected to the lower portion of tank 26 by a conduit 23 provided with a valve 29. The upper portion of tank 5 i is connected to tank 26 by a conduit 3!! provided with a valve 3|. Inside tank 26 the conduit 33 is formed into a heating coil 32, the end of the conduit being directed downwardly, as shown at 33. Above the coiled conduit 32 the internal wall of tank 26 is formed with an upwardly flaring annular rib. 34 on which is removably supported a pan 35 having a perforated bottom wall 36. Pan 35 contains the coffee grounds, tea leaves,

- or other comminuted beverage derivative terial employed in brewing the beverage.

Secured to the top of tank 26 by suitable clamp fasteners 31, 3'! is a top cover 38 provided with a handle 39. Connected to the portion of the tank 26 above pan 35 by respective upper and lower conduit sections it and AI is a transparent vertical sight tube t2. Supported in respective upper and lower brackets '53 and i i secured to tank 26 adjacent the sight tube is a transparent sight tube t5. Tube contains a liquid having a color which corresponds to the color of the desired strength of beverage. In the process of making the beverage, the liquid in tube t2 is compared with the liquid in tube 55, and the eperation of the apparatus is discontinued when color of liquid in tube 42 is observed to be identical with that in tube 55. Additional tubes such as 45, may be mounted on the tank adjacent tube 42 containing liquids of various shades of color, corresponding to various strengths of the beverage being made. By comparing color of the beverage in tube 2 with different con1- parison tubes, any one of a plurality of different beverage strengths may be obtained.

Transversely journalled in the lower portion of tank 26 is a shaft 36. Shaft extends through the front wall portion of tank 23 and secured to the end of the shaft is a handle ll. Secured to the perforated bottom wall 35 of pan 35 is a vertical conduit is formed at its top end with a U-bend G9. Secured to the end of the U-bend is a perforated cap 5%. Secured to the bottom end of conduit 48 is an arcuate plate member 5| which is downwardly concave and which has its axis of curvature at shaft 56. Secured to plate member 5i is a vertical conduit eilwhose top end terminates just below the perforated bottom wall 36 of pan 35. The lower ends of conduits 48 and 52 communicate with the space below arcuate plate member 5| except when they are covered by an arcuate valve member 53 which is secured to shaft 56 by radial arms 54, 54. Valve member 53 is formed with spaced apertures 55 and 56 adapted to register with the bottom ends of the respective conduits 52 and 43 but having a different angular spacing with respect to shaft 46 than the bottom ends of said conduits. When shaft 46 is rotated to a position wherein aperture 55 is in registry with the bottom end of conduit 48, conduit 52 is sealed at its bottom end by valve member '53, and vice versa.

Designated at 57 is a third tank which may be in any suitable location remote from tanks H and 26. Tank 51 has a top cover 58 removably secured to the top of the tank by clamp fasteners 58, 55. Rigidly secured inside tank 57 is a storage vessel 65, also provided with a top cover 6!. Connected to tank 57 and communicatin with the space between tank 5? and inner tank 60 are respective conduits 52 and 53 provided with respective valves 64 and 65. Conduit 53 may be employed to admit hot water or steam to the space between tanks 51 and 60. Conduit 62 may be employed to admit cold air to said space, where it is desired to refrigerate or cool the inner tank Bil. A conduit 65 connects the lower portion of inner tank 65 to the lower portion of tank through a valve 61.

The top portion of inner tank 60 is vented to atmosphere by a vent conduit 68.

In operation, Water shown at 69 in tank H is heated by burner M to an elevated temperature, steam being formed in the upper portion of said tank. The steam pressure is indicated on gage 26. Valve 29 is opened, admitting hot water into tank 25 through conduit 28, and is then closed.

Assuming that beverage of the percolated type is desired, handle 47 is rotated so that valve aperture 53 is registered with the bottom end of conduit 48. Valve Si is opened, admitting steam through conduit 30 and coil 32 into the space immediately below pan 35 in tank 26. The steam acting on the hot water in tank 26 forces it upwardly through conduit 48 and through the U-bend 39, causing the water to spray through the perforated head 59 onto the colfee grounds or tea leaves in the pan 35. The water drips through the bottom wall 35 of the pan after a period of contact with the coffee grounds or tea leaves during which steeping action occurs. This action may be continued until a comparison of the sight tubes 42: and 45 indicates that the beverage has reached its desired strength, at which time, valve 3| is closed, terminating the percolating action. The beverage may then be admitted into tank through conduit 56 by opening valve 61 until a desired quantity of beverage is contained in said tank 60. A drain faucet 10 for removing the beverage is provided, said drain faucet being connected to the bottom portion of inner tank 60 by means of a short conduit section II connecting the faucet to the inner tank through the intervening space between the outer tank 51 and said inner tank.

The inner tank 50 is at a lower level than tank 25 so that the beverage will flow to tank 60 by gravity.

Where beverage of the infused type is desired rather than the percolated type, handle 41 is rotated so that aperture 55 is registered with the lower end of conduit 52. The hot water in tank 26 is then forced upwardly through conduit 52 by the steam pressure in the upper portion of the tank and is forced continuously through the perforated bottom wall 36 of pan 35, remaining in pan 35 for a suificient period for the desired steeping to take place, after which it drips back into the lower portion of tank 26. Due to the resistance to free return flow offered by the pan 35 and the material contained therein, both in the case of percolating action previously described, and the infusing action now discussed, the liquid rises to a sufficient height above pan 35 to be observed in the sight tube 42. Therefore, when beverage of the desired strength is observed in said sight tube, the valve 3| is closed to terminate the brewing action, as in the previously described method of operation of the apparatus.

A preferred method of operation of the apparatus consists of admitting hot water from tank H into tank 26 and then closing valve 2.9. Valve 3: is then opened. The valve member 53 is then rotated to alternately register aperture 56 with conduit t8 and aperture 55 with conduit 52, so that liquid will be forced up conduit 48 and conduit alternately. This is continued until the :everage is of the desired strength. Valve 3| is then closed.

To obtain prolonged steeping action of the liquid in the upper portion of tank 26, valve 3| is maintained open with valve member 53 covering the bottom ends of both conduits 48 and 52, whereby the steam pressure in the intermediate portion of tank 26 prevents the liquid from drippin through the perforated bottom wall 36 of pan 35 at any appreciable rate. When the beverage has reached the desired strength, valve 3| is closed, and the steam pressure in tank 26 is allowed to drop. The beverage drips into the lower portion of tank 25 and may be admitted into tank 6!! by opening valve 51.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the first two tanks of the apparatus of Figure 1 are combined in a single tank 12. Tank '12 comprises a lower compartment '13, an intermediate compartment 14 and a top compartment to which is releasably secured a top cover 75. At the lower portion of tank 12 is a sight tube 11 communicating with compartment 1'3. At the intermediate portion of tank 12 is a sight tube 18 communicating with compartment i s. Secured to the tank wall adjacent sight tube 78 is the comparison tube 19. The top wall of compartment 74 comprises the drip pan 80 similar to pan 35 of Figure l. A first vertical conduit 8| extends from the lower portion of compartment 13 through compartment 14 and upwardly into compartment 15, the top of conduit 8| being formed with the inverted U-bend 82 and having a spray head 83 secured to its end. A second vertical conduit 84 extends from the lower portion of compartment '13 through compartment 14 and is connected to the bottom wall of pan 80. Conduits 84 and 8| are provided with respective valves 85 and 86 controlled respectively by knobs 8'1 and 88 externally of the tank 12. Connected to the lower ends of conduits '84 and 8| is a two-way valve 89 controlled by a knob 90 externally of tank 12. Valve 89 is arranged to selectively admit liquid from compartment 13 to either conduit 84 or 8|. Connected to the upper portion of compartment 73 is a pressure gage 92 and a safety valve 93. A burner 94 is positioned below the bottom of tank 12.

The bottom portion of compartment 14 is connected to tank 60 by a conduit 95 which includes a valve 96. Cold water is admitted to the lower portion of compartment 13 by a water supply conduit 91 which includes a supply control valve 98.

In operation, the water in compartment 13 is heated by the burner 94, developing steam pressure in the upper portion of the compartment. With the valve 85 closed and valve 88 open, valve 89 may be set so that conduit 8| communicates with the water in compartment 13, whereby the water is forced upwardly in conduit 8| and is sprayed onto the coifee grounds or tea leaves in pan 89 and drips into compartment 14. With valve 88 closed and valve 85 open, valve 89 may be set so that conduit 84 communicates with the water in compartment 13, whereby the water is forced upwardly in conduit 84 through the pan 88, and drips back into compartment 14 after infusing through the coffee grounds or tea leaves in said pan. As in the previous embodiment of the invention, the liquid may be fed alternately through the conduits 8| and 84 until the desired strength is reached. By opening the valve 96, the beverage may be admitted into tank 80 for dispensing therefrom by the faucet 18.

While certain specific embodiments of a beverage making apparatus have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a beverage making apparatus, a closed water heating chamber, a second chamber, a tray containing beverage-making material in said second chamber, said tray having a perforated bottom wall, a pair of Vertical conduits in said second chamber communicating with said waterheating chamber, one of said conduits rising above the tray and the other conduit terminating adjacent the bottom of the tray, and means for selectively forcing water from said heating chamber upwardly through either said one or said other conduit into contact with the beveragemaking material.

2. In a beverage making apparatus, a closed water heating chamber, a second chamber, a tray containing beverage-making material in said second chamber, said tray having a perforated bottom wall, a first vertical conduit in said second chamber communicating with said water-heating chamber extending above said tray, a second vertical conduit in said second chamber communicating with said water-heating chamber and terminating adjacent the bottom of the tray, means for transmitting steam pressure from said heating chamber to the bottom ends of said conduits, and means for selectively admitting hot water from said heating chamber to the bottom end of either said first conduit or said second conduit, whereby the steam pressure will force the water upwardly through the conduits into contact with the beverage-making material.

3. In a beverage making apparatus, a vertical tank, a tray containing beverage making material in said tank and defining an upper space and a lower space therein, the bottom wall of said tray being perforated, the lower space being adapted to contain hot water, means for heating the water and for generating steam pressure in the lower space above the surface of the water, a first vertical conduit in said tank extending from said lower space below the water surface into said upper space above the tray, a second vertical conduit in said tank extending from said lower space below the water surface and terminating adjacent the bottom of the tray, and selective valve means for closing off the lower end of either the first conduit or the second conduit.

4. A beverage making apparatus comprising a water heating chamber, a second chamber, a tray containing beverage making material in said second chamber, the bottom wall of said tray being perforated, a first vertical conduit in said second chamber extending from the lower space therein to the space above the tray, a second vertical conduit in said second chamber extending from the lower space therein to the bottom of said tray, first conduit means connecting the lower portion of said water heating chamber to the lower portion of said second chamber, second conduit means connecting the upper portion of said water heating chamber to the space sub-adjacent the tray in said second chamber, selective valve means for closing off the lower end of either said first vertical conduit or said second vertical conduit, a beverage dispensing tank, and conduit means connecting the lower portion of said second chamber to the beverage dispensing tank.

5. A beverage making apparatus comprising a vertical tank, means defining a lower compartment and an upper compartment in said tank, heating means beneath said lower compartment, a tray containing beverage making material in said upper compartment, the bottom wall of said tray being perforated, a first vertical conduit in said tank extending from the lower compartment to the space above said tray, a second vertical conduit in said tank extending from the lower compartment to the bottom of said tray, selective valve means for closing off the lower end of either said first vertical conduit or said second vertical conduit, a beverage dispensing tank, and conduit means connecting the lower portion of said upper compartment to said beverage dispensing tank.

6. In a beverage-making apparatus, a closed water-heating chamber, a second chamber, a tray containing beverage-making material in said second chamber, said tray having a perforated bottom wall, a pair of vertical conduits in said second chamber communicating with said Waterheating chamber, a rotatable valve member disposed adjacent the lower ends of the conduits and arranged to selectively close oif said lower ends, and means for forcing water from said heating chamber upwardly through said conduits into contact with the beverage-making material.

RALPH I-I. HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,198 Lee Nov. 28, 1865 378,296 Ehrlich Feb. 21, 1888 428,127 Childs Mar. 11, 1890 429,139 Malen June 3, 1890 747,705 Heinrichs Dec. 22, 1903 1,300,175 Kittinger Apr. 8, 1919 1,472,704 Ward Oct. 30, 1923 1,802,268 Onofrio Apr. 21, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 684,356 France Mar. 17, 1930 

